Mixing dispenser for water supply



Nov. 3, 1964 H. A. SCHAEFER MIXING DISPENSER FOR WATER SUPPLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 26. 1961 Hans A. Sc/raefer INVENTOR Nov. 3, 1964 H. A. SCHAEFER MIXING DISPENSER FOR WATER SUPPLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Filed 001;. 26. 1961 A. Sc/raefer INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,155,283 MIXING DISPENSER FOR WATER SUPPLY Hans A. Schaefer', P.0. Box 747, White Plains, NY. Filed Get: 26, 196-1, Ser. No; 147,833 Z'Glaiins; (Cl: ZZZ-129.1)

This invention relates to a novel and useful mixing dispenser fora water supply suchas that established by water coolers.

The mixing dispenser of the instant invention has been specifically adapted to provide a means whereby flavored syrup and/ or the like-may be mixed with water being dispensedfrom a water cooler of conventional type. In this manner, a flavored drink such as grape or orange may be dispensed from a water cooler as desired.

However, the mixing. dispenser of the instant inventionh'as been constructed in a'manner whereby the conventionaldispensing of clear cool water may still be effected.

The main object of this invention is to provide a mixing dispenser attachment for conventional types of water coolers which may be'utilized' to dispense, together with cool water, flavored syrup and/or the like in order that the flavored syrup and cool Water dispensed may be combined into a flavored drink. Although most soft drinks utilize carbonated water, there are many desirable types of soft drinks which are not carbonated and therefore which could be readily dispensed by a Water cooler having the mixing dispenser attachment of the instant-invention operatively connected thereto.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mixing dispenser which may be readily adapted to various types of water coolers such as those with exposed and inverted water jugs and those which include completely enclosed and refrigerated Water reservoirs.

.Another object of this invention-is to provide a mixing dispenser for conventional types of water fountains and the like which may be used not only for dispensing flavored drinks but also in the conventional manner to dispense clear cool water.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a mixing dispenser attachment for water coolers which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to install so as to provide a device that Will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation. I

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional type of water cooler providedwith a completely enclosed and refrigerated pressurized water reservoir with the mixing dispenser attachment of the instant invention t operatively connected thereto;

' modified form of mixing dispenser attachment of the instant invention operatively connected thereto for dispensing not only selected flavored drinks but also clear cool water; and p i "ice FIGURE 4' is a fragmentary top plan view of them:- bodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3;

Referring. now more" specifically to the drawings: the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional type of water cooler which includesa housing. or cabinet-gem erally referred to bythe reference numeral; 12 inzwhich there is disposed, but not shown, a'suitable refrigeration system for refrigeratingwater from a suitable pressurized source.

The Water cooler 10 includes afountain'type dispenser. generally referred to by the reference numeral. 14which may be actuated by meansof a treadle (not shown) atthe base of the cabinet 12.

Substantially all types of water coolers similar to Water cooler 10 include asupplemental cool water out-. let generally referred to by the reference numeral 16 which is normally covered and closed by means of a suitable capfitting (not shown). However the attachment of the instant invention is generally'designated. by the reference numeral 18 and includes an upstanding rigid pipe 20 whose lower end is communicated with the supplemental cool water outlet. 16in fluid-tight: relation thereto. The upper end of the rigid pipe 20-'has a T-fitting 22 secured theretoand each end of the. horizontal por tion 24 thereof has a suitable: plug: member 26 secured therein whose outer endis provided with a: mounting clamp 28. A pair of liquid reservoirs. generally referred; to by the reference numerals 30 and 325 are removably supported on the brackets 28 and each includes a removable closure top 34. In addition; each of the reservoirs-3t and 32 includes a lower outlet opening defined by an outlet neck 36. A I -fitting generally referred to by the reference numeral 40 is interposed in the upstanding pipe 20 and has a T-fitting generally referred,

a mixing and control valve assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 58 secured thereto and the mixing and control valves 48 each include first and second inlet openings 50 and 52. Each of the first inlet openings 50 is communicated with the corresponding outlet neck 36 by means of a suitable tubing member 54 and the inlet openings 52 are each communicated with the T-fitting 44 which is in turn communicated with the rigid pipe 20.

It is to be noted that each of the control and mixing valve assemblies includes means for mixing the fluids contained in the reservoirs 30 with the Water under pres sure Within the rigid pipe 20 and that each of the valve assemblies 48 may be of any conventional design such as a T omlinson Faucet Model R--1A.

Each of the reservoirs 30 and 32 may be filled with I a suitable flavoring syrup and upon operation of a selected one of the handles 55 carried by the valve assemblies 48 the desired syrup may be mixed with the water from the rigid pipe 20. It will be noted that the rigid pipe 20 comprises means for mounting the attachment 18 on the water cooler 10. Additionally, if a person wishes clear cool water, the conventional treadle (not shown) for actuating the fountain type fixture 14 may be used.

With attention now directed to FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings there will be seen a diflierent type of water cooler generally referred to by the reference numeral which includes a housing or cabinet generally referred to by the reference numeral 62, an inverted jug type water supply generally referred to by the reference numeral 64 and an outlet line 65 which is communicated with the interior ofthe inverted jug 64 and has a conventional push button type discharge valve generally referred to by the reference numeral 68 mounted on its discharge end by means of a cross fitting generally referred to by the reference numeral 70. In normal operation of the cooler 60, the push button discharge valve is secured to the outlet line '66 in place of the cross fitting 7s. A pair of mounting brackets 72 are mounted on opposite sides of the cabinet '62 and are utilized to removably support a pair of liquid reservoirs 7 4 and 76. Each of the reservoirs '74 and 76 includes a removable closure top 78 and each is provided with an outlet neck defining an outlet opening with which one end of a fluid conduit 80 is communicated [in fluid-tight relation thereto. The free ends of the fluid conduits 80 have mixing and control valves generally referred to by the reference numeral 82 secured thereto which are similar to mixing and control valves 48 and each of the mixing and control valve assemblies 82 includes first and second inlet means 84 and 86. The inlet means '84 are communicated with the free ends of the fluid conduits 80 and the inlet means 36 are communicated with the cross fitting 70. Each of the valve assemblies 82 also includes a handle actuator 88 and inasmuch as each valve assembly 82 is communicated with the outlet line 66 of the water cooler 60 and with one of the fluid reservoirs 74 and 76, each mixing and control valve assembly 82 may be utilized to dispense a mixture of flavored syrup and cool water. In addition, the conventional type push button delivery valve 86 may be utilized to dispense clear cool water.

Thus, it may be seen that each of the water coolers 12 and 60 may be utilized to dispense both a mixture of syrup and cool water and clear cool water alone. In addition, the mixing'dispenser attachments may each be readily secured to the corresponding type of water cooler as an attachment and requires little alteration and time to install. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and. equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the in vention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a water cooler of the type in- 4- eluding a housing and a water outlet line terminating at its discharge end at a control valve including a first inlet therefor and a pair of secondary inlets disposed below the upper end of said housing, said housing including a water reservoir elevated above said control valve with which the inlet end of said water outlet line is communicated, the discharge end of said water outlet line being communicated with said first inlet, a pair of liquid reservoirs supported from said housing and elevated above said inlets, said liquid reservoirs each including outlet line means operatively connected thereto, said outlet line means each having a control valve disposed therein, the outlet ends of said outlet line means being communicated with said secondary inlets.

2. Incombination with a water cooler of the type including a housing having a secondary water outlet opening through the top of said housing, a mixing dispenser comprising a pair of liquid reservoirs each including an inlet opening and a lower outlet opening, an upright pipe having its lower end secured to said outlet, means on the upper end of'said pipe mounting said reservoirs on said pipe, a pair of fluid conduits having one pair of corresponding ends communicated with said lower outlet openings in fluid-tight relation therewith, a pair of control valves each including a pair of inlets with which the other pair of corresponding ends of said fluid conduits are communicated and a second pair of inlets which are communicated with the interior of said pipe, each of said control valves also including an outlet and a valve actuator for simultaneously communicating the inlets of each of said control valves with the corresponding outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A WATER COOLER OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A HOUSING AND A WATER OUTLET LINE TERMINATING AT ITS DISCHARGE END AT A CONTROL VALVE INCLUDING A FIRST INLET THEREFOR AND A PAIR OF SECONDARY INLETS DISPOSED BELOW THE UPPER END OF SAID HOUSING, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING A WATER RESERVOIR ELEVATED ABOVE SAID CONTROL VALVE WITH WHICH THE INLET END OF SAID WATER OUTLET LINE IS COMMUNICATED, THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID WATER OUTLET LINE BEING COMMUNICATED WITH SAID FIRST INLET, A PAIR OF LIQUID RESERVOIRS SUPPORTED FROM SAID HOUSING AND ELEVATED ABOVE SAID INLETS, SAID LIQUID RESERVOIRS EACH INCLUDING OUTLET LINE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED THERETO, SAID OUTLET LINE MEANS EACH HAVING A CONTROL VALVE DISPOSED THEREIN, THE OUTLET ENDS OF SAID OUTLET LINE MEANS BEING COMMUNICATED WITH SAID SECONDARY INLETS. 